The premise of The Centre sounded so promising, but as the story unfolded it seemed underdeveloped and uninteresting. It was difficult to care about the characters, who all were shallow and unlikeable.

2.5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read and review this ARC.

Am I... turning into a literary fiction girlie? Because I loved this to bits - not even for the twist I did not anticipate, but because of my own passion for language learning as well as the questions this book asks about identity, colonialism, and priviledge. How do I relate to the languages I speak? Who "owns" a language - and who speaks it "perfectly"? Can a language be more powerful than another? How does my environment in the diaspora change the way I speak my native language? Is it - and with it my identity - something I can lose?

What would I do to speak any language perfectly?

The answer is to the last questions is... a lot, personally . And so would Anisa, who is a perfectly imperfect, perfectly unlikeable Millenial-coded protagonist. In the end, you can think what you want about the speculative secret behind the exclusive Centre's success - I enjoyed this novel for the very writing.

The audiobook also provided an interview with the author as an addendum to her writing. I found her insights and the behind-the-scenes quite enlightening and would love more writers to converse with their audience that way! Give me those embedded podcast episodes.

After becoming suspicious about how her boyfriend becomes very fluent in languages she finds that there is a placed called The Centre that allows you to spend 10 days in solitude and immersed in learning a language. When those 10 days are up you become very fluent in said language. You cannot talk to The Centre with anyone and you are only allowed to recommend one person in your lifetime for the program. What could possibly go wrong?

I really, really wanted to love The Centre because of how unique and fascinating the plot is but it ultimately fell flat for me.

Ayesha does a great job of setting up the clinical feel of The Centre and allows us as the readers to feel suspicious of it as we read on.

But for me the plot felt very discombobulated with there being a lot threads of subplots that were sown into the book but were never fully explored and talked about again. I found a lot of the twists to be very predictable. Also I was very annoyed by Anisa for most of the book.

I can see how The Centre could appeal to many with the interesting plot of this being a fast paced sci-fi thriller.

Dear The Centre,
What did I just read??? You were a wonderful new twist on Dark Academia and you kind of blew my mind. I could not stop listening to you! From your original concept and premise of quickened language learning to the extremely dark place that you went, you had me thinking. You were well written and thought out, and I just loved trying to keep up with everywhere you went!

The Centre is weird and creepy and totally odd and I absolutely loved it.

Anisa Ellahi is a translator (mostly for television and movies) who has bigger aspirations, but not a lot of motivation. When she meets a man who tells her of a way she can easily and fluently learn more languages, her life begins to change. I actually recommend going into this book mostly blind and I think the summary from the publisher shares way too much information!

It's a dark book, but also an entertaining one with a really interesting look at language (I was coincidentally reading it at the same time I was reading Babel and there were so many parallels). It's the kind of novel that I wanted to begin again as soon as I finished because I know there was a lot that I missed. The ending was good, but felt a little rushed to me.

I think this book worked really well on audio. Overall, I highly recommend The Centre if you like dark books that are a little bit odd!

I am conflicted on this one. First - the prose. I loved our main character's voice. It read like peeking into someone's journal. The premise - a language center where one is able to learn to be completely fluent in another language in three weeks - was highly intriguing and the setting was thoroughly fleshed out. The prose and character development are a true 5/5. However, I found the ending to be a bit rushed and not as intriguing as I had hoped. I wanted some additional detail/deeper exploration of Anisa's reaction/processing around finding out the truth about the centre.

This book had twists and turns that I wasn't fully expecting.

It felt like the author might have been tackling a little too much that left me scratching my head if some parts were necessary.

The narrator was so pleasant to listen to as well!

this was a very fun and gripping novel that i didn‘t want to stop listening to. even though it might be classified as a mystery or even thriller, i would say that the relationships between the characters as well as the exploration of themes such as migration, postcolonialism and feminism are just as integral to the book. since i‘m interested in language and linguistics, i also loved the concept of a mysterious language school and the protagonists‘ insights into her work as a translator.

I'm in for all books dark academia with a twist and a promise of reflections on colonialism, but what made The Centre an insta-read for me was the theme of translation and learning languages. I absolutely loved this book and it features some of my favourite elements such as an unreliable narrator, metafiction, and morally gray characters. Actually, it gets REALLY and unexpectedly meta towards the end and we actually learn at that point how unreliable the narrator is.

The Centre is about a secret language centre where the elite can learn any language fluently in ten days and Anisa the protagonist learns about this place and decides to give it a go, and of course finds that there's something very sinister about this place. I didn't know what to expect from the plot but it's certainly not clichéd nor it is a high-octane thriller with a showdown in the end which I'm happy it isn't. I really liked how the plot was built, going into really unexpected directions with all the strangely realistic reactions and character dynamics. If you love character-driven books as much as I do, The Centre will be a perfect choice.

I really loved how the book touched upon multiple themes like colonialism, classism, racism, sexism and exploitation. Anisa is from Pakistan, living in the UK for decades now and I think it's important to mention that from a class and wealth point of view she is extremely privileged. Recently I've seen several books by BIPOC authors criticized for writing characters who are in some ways privileged, especially through their class or financial background. In The Centre, the choice of a wealthy protagonist coming from the Karachi elite is logical, as the fee of learning a language there is 20k; not many people from less fortunate backgrounds could pay for that. (Adam, Anisa's ex being one of the exceptions but I think the book hints at him having done some dodgy business to achieve that.)
I think The Centre reflects on classism very well though of course not in a didactic fashion due to the first person narration. What some might find strange though is the mixture of show and tell. Some issues are reflected on directly by the protagonist explaining them, like islamophobia or sexism, while others are reflected on by how the character is written, how she thinks, acts, or when others interact with her. I think classism is reflected well on e.g. through the character of Adam, or in the scenes set in Karachi or Delhi with all the characters of the respective elites. Personally, I like this gray zone representation as it feels realistic that a person might have perfect insight on some issues while being totally blind to some others.

I cannot emphasize enough that this book is really strong in characterization with a lot of inner meanderings and it's exactly this characterization and dynamics that allow the plot to take some unexpected turns.

I've listened to the audiobook version of this novel that included an interview with the author which I wasn't aware of in advance so when the book ended while I still had some half an hour from the audiobook I was shocked and the ending felt abrupt, but I relistened the last few minutes and found that actually I felt that way because of my expectations about the length and it all makes sense and is a perfect roundup of all the meta-ness of the book.

I think Balvinder Sopal did a really good job with the audio narration and really brought the text to life. I especially liked that she didn't go with the practice of changing the pitch of one's voice to differentiate between characters (which practice I utterly dislike) but still made it easy to follow by e.g. how the characters talked or changing the accent.

If you're comfortable with audiobooks I can highly recommend experiencing The Centre in this format as it adds a whole new level to the meta-ness (I cannot explain more due to spoilers). Also, the interview is really exciting and gives some fascinating insights.

I also need to mention the cover art which really grabs one's attention (it certainly did mine) and I was thrilled when it turned out that it is an actual setting of a scene early in the book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Gillian Flynn Books and Dreamscape Media for providing an ARC.

Unravel the secrets of privilege and identity in "The Centre," a mind-bending tale with an unexpected twist.……

Book Information

“The Centre” written by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi, is a 288-page mystery published on July 11, 2023. The audio version is narrated by Balvinder Sopal and spans 8 hours and 36 minutes. Thank you to Dreamscape Media for providing me with an advance readers copy of this book for review.

Summary

Anisa dreams of being a translator but ends up subtitling Bollywood movies and relying on her parents' support. Her boyfriend, Adam, introduces her to The Centre, a program promising instant language fluency. Intrigued, she enrolls but soon realizes its high cost and questionable practices, forcing her to confront difficult ethical dilemmas.

My Thoughts

Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi's "The Centre" presents an intriguing story that kept me engaged throughout. The book delves into the realms of mystery, thriller, and literary fiction, making it an enjoyable read. The exploration of colonialism, privilege, and sexism within the narrative adds depth to the story. The book excels in characterization and world-building, and it cleverly weaves in dark humor, creating a unique and captivating plot. Siddiqi invites you to explore a world of mystery and humor, where solving the puzzle could change everything.

I listened to the audio version of the book and Balvinder Sopal’s excellent performance enhances the immersive experience, effectively bringing the characters and their world to life. This story is driven by the voices and thoughts of the characters so a solid audio performance is critical and Sopal delivered.

Although classified as a mystery/thriller, "The Centre" leans more towards character-driven fiction. While the mystery element is present, it’s not necessarily the driving force. The story does take a dark and weird turn, however, adding to its intrigue.

Though I enjoyed the book, I was disappointed with the ending. It felt rushed and didn't deliver the required resolution. Unfortunately, the abrupt conclusion dampened my overall experience. The last portion of the book seemed to search for a satisfying resolution that didn't quite manifest, leaving a sense of unfinished business.

The dialogue in the book is also at times repetitive, which can be a minor drawback. On the other hand, the main character's exploration of themes like identity, immigration, feminism, language, and privilege/class adds depth to the narrative.

"The Centre" is a good book with a brilliant premise that, with a stronger ending, could have easily earned a 4-star rating. It has the potential to be either an excellent short story or to be restructured into a more extensive, deeper novel. Despite its flaws, the book offers a compelling and thought-provoking read.

Recommendation

"The Centre" is an intriguing and unique character-driven fiction, exploring themes of colonialism, privilege, and identity. While the book excels in its captivating plot and dark humor, the ending will seem rushed and unsatisfying for some which may dampen an otherwise enjoyable reading experience. Recommended.

Rating

3 Translated Stars

“But so often, joy and beauty were stuck in the same places as grief and shame, and one could not be accessed without the other.”

Wow wow wow. This was so good. Unique, entertaining, thought provoking. I can honestly say that I’ve never read anything like it.
Anisa is a Pakistani translator living in London. She yearns to translate bigger works, but has settled more or less with Bollywood films. Soon, she meets Adam, and they have a brief romance that leads to a secret…. The Centre.
The Centre seems too good to be true to Anisa, and after attending, she learns that it might just be that.
The Centre takes on its own role, personified into something bigger than just the lush gardens and curious staff. There are mysteries hidden behind locked doors, emails, and friendly faces.
Female friendships, feminism, comedy, and a groundbreaking plan to harness the power of the human psyche… this was so good!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided me with an audiobook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All of these thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’m disappointed. The compelling premise of this novel, as described in the publisher’s blurb, got me very excited to read the book and I was thrilled that Netgalley approved me for the digital audiobook ARC. Thank you Netgalley!

Unfortunately, the novel didn’t match its description. It was not humorous or satirical, nor was it a thriller. It’s mostly social commentary that goes in too many directions, touching superficially on misogyny, racism, religion, colonialism, immigration, intellectual superiority, intolerance, bisexuality, energetic transfer, meditation and other spiritual practices, tantra, and more. Any of those topics are worth exploring in depth and I was frequently frustrated by the lack of focus.

A big part of the novel is about Anisa and Adam’s sexual problems, which has absolutely nothing to do with the plot or even character development.

This book has great ideas and really needs a talented editor to cut out the multiple unnecessary tangents.

Anisa, the protagonist, annoyed me with her arrogance, self-absorption, and selfishness. Through the entire book she doesn’t do one single thing to help anyone else. She treats her boyfriend Adam horribly and complains incessantly about her best (and only) friend Naima. I had to force myself to finish this book because I didn’t want to spend any time with this super negative and hypercritical character .

I was so captivated by this dark, surreal debut literary fiction - I seriously never wanted to put it down. I love the way it talked about colonialism in language and linguistics. There's tension in every page, highlighting the sinister undertone of this story incredibly well. I can't wait to read whatever Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi writes next!

I'm thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.

This book was SO good! Truly unique in every way, and one that will keep you guessing until the very end. It's described as being a dark comedy and I'd say it more aligns with dark, slightly comedic, narrative that forces its readers to examine the concept of mortality and human connection. There are a few huge twists so I won't give anything away, just go read it!

Thank you NetGalley for granting me access to the book in exchange for an honest review.

COMPELLING, especially on the heels of Babel!

3.5 stars
First if all I loved the idea of the Centre: a strange linguistic kind of school! Because of Anisa's background there was plenty of new information about new to me cultures!
But somehow I had troubles getting into the story a bit and I couldn't really connect with Anisa. For me the flow was nissing a bit. The parts of the story were not as connected as I prefer it.
Nethertheless I enjoyed the book since I am a language freak myself!
Thank you #NetGalley #Dreamscape Media for this audiobook

4.5 stars for this low-key creepy novel. Note that we got the audiobook of this one and we HIGHLY recommend listening rather than reading with your eyes!

Anisa is a 35-year-old Pakistani woman who's been living in London since she was 18. She spends her days subtitling Bollywood films and subsidizes her (not even all that privileged) lifestyle with an allowance from her family. She dreams of being a notable translator, but although she speaks English, Hindi, Urdu, and French, she feels like she won't be taken seriously unless she can translate from a "serious" (aka: European) language. Then her boyfriend, a white Briton who speaks several languages like a native, tells her that he's not naturally gifted - he actually learned each language he speaks over the course of 10 days at The Centre, a super-private language institute. Anisa is skeptical, but she wants to try it out anyway. And after it works, she wants to know more about /how/ it's working...

The book tackles a lot of serious issues - colonization, the hierarchy of cultures & languages, the distribution of power - but it's also a very personal story about a sometimes self-centered, sometimes tryhard woman who's also trying to be authentic. Since the book is entirely told in first person, everything you get is from Anisa's (possibly skewed) perspective. It can feel rambling, but she always has a narrative in mind - whether it's to make herself seem better or more interesting, or to throw her exes under the bus, you know this is Anisa's life.

The creepy undertones serve the story well. Although the reveal about the Centre is shocking, it's also so logical that the reader/listener could deduce it - which could mean that it's a letdown. But it's not the reveal that's important, it's how Anisa deals with the discovery.

This was a captivating listen!! Highly recommended.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

This was a weird one and I am still unsure how I feel about it. I am not sad that I read it but I am left feeling a little odd and wondering what just happened! This was my 1st book by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi
but definitely won't be my last!


#TheCentre
#NetGalley

The "dark academia" genre is so popular right now, but it is so often YA titles. I loved that this novel was solidly for adults. It is dark and clever and surprisingly poignant at parts. It also had one of the best endings in recent memory! The narrator's accents are all spot on, so I'm very glad I listened to the audiobook. I also loved the descriptions of academics falling in love. It was much more romantic than I expected. Highly recommend!

I'm not normally a horror person, but as someone perpetually haunted by the DuoLingo Owl, I had to read this book. A centre that GUARANTEES fluency? In ten days? I just couldn't envision what horrific turn this could take. I did find myself getting bored at times, and the main character was a pretty unlikable character, but I think that's intentional.